If you’re considering purchasing a swim spa, it’s natural to wonder how much it will cost to operate when looking at your overall budget. While a swim spa will obviously increase the amount of water you use and electricity depending on how much you use it, they are much less expensive compared to a pool. We can’t give you an exact number, but here are some things to consider. 

How Much Electricity Does a Swim Spa Use?

There are several factors that will dictate the amount of electricity you’ll end up using when running a swim spa, how often you plan to use it will likely be the most important one. Aside from heating the water, especially if you have a spa that includes a hot tub area, generating the current you swim against uses the most electricity. As you can imagine, using your spa daily will cost more than if you use it once a week or less. 

Electricity drives the pumps and water heaters in your swim spa and will account for the majority of your cost. Energy prices vary based on location (some areas charge more during peak periods and less during off-peak hours), so depending on where you live, you can expect to spend at least $50 to $100 monthly. The type of climate you live in will also influence the amount of electricity consumed; warmer climates will use less electricity compared to those in colder climates.

 The size of your swim spa will also affect its electricity usage and a larger spa will use more electricity for heating and current than a smaller one. Many of the larger swim spas also have an extra tank for a hot tub and therefore warmer water experience. Even those without a second tank can still double as a hot tub by turning up the temperature, but heating water is one of the most power-dependent functions, so the more water you’re heating, the more power will be required.

Tips to Reduce Swim Spa Running Costs

One of the easiest, cost effective ways to reduce the cost of your swim spa (and increase its longevity) is to keep up with its maintenance, particularly the filters. A dirty filter doesn’t allow water to pass through easily making your pump work harder which uses more energy. Luckily cleaning your filters is easy, just run them under water every week and soak them in a chemical cleaning solution every few weeks to keep them free of build up and debris. 

Your swim spa insulation affects how quickly heat will leave the water and how much energy you will need to keep it warm. Make sure to choose a spa with energy-efficient foam insulation to preserve heat and always use a cover which also helps keep out dirt and critters. There are additional insulation options that can be added to the cabinet, particularly if you live in a colder climate and even landscaping that can help shield your spa from the elements and maintain its heat better. 

If you live in a colder climate it may be tempting to turn off your spa on days when you’re not using it, but it’ll likely be more cost effective to leave your spa running all of the time set at a lower temperature as it uses a lot of energy to heat the water from cold versus maintaining a temperature of around 80 degrees for example. The only time we recommend turning off your spa is if you don’t plan to use it for a few months. If your swim spa has a circuit timer, you can set it to run during off-peak hours.

Give us a call at 970-879-4390 or click here to contact us for more information on getting the most out of your swim spa.